About Frederuna

Widukind names "Thiadrici" as father of Queen Mathilde, specifying that the family was "stirpis magni ducis Widukindi"[34]. The father of Queen Mathilde is named "Thietricus" in the Vita Mathildis Reginæ[35].

m (her mother) REGINLIND [Reinhild], daughter of --- (-11 May ----). The wife of Theoderich is named "Reinhildam, Danorum Fresonumque germine procreatam" in the Vita Mathildis Reginæ[36]. According to Europäische Stammtafeln[37], she was Reinhild, daughter of Gotfrid the Dane & his wife Gisela [Carolingian], which is presumably a guess based on this description in the Vita Mathildis. However, the chronology is not ideal. Regino records the marriage in 882 of "Gisla filia Hlotharii" and "rex Godofridus Nordmannorum"[38]. If this couple's daughter was the mother of Queen Mathilde, the latter's estimated birth date (see below) would need to be pushed forward by several years, which makes the chronology for her known descendants tight. A better fit may be Reginlind, [sister of Bovo Bishop of Chalons, daughter of ---]. The known sister of Bishop Bovo was Frederuna, wife of Charles III "le Simple" King of the Franks. The hypothesis that there was another sister married to Theoderic would explain (1) the name Frederuna being transmitted to Regenhild's daughter, and (2) Berenger Bishop of Cambrai, recorded elsewhere as nepos of Queen Frederuna, being described as "…Ottonis imperatoris proxime consanguineus" in the Gesta Episcoporum Cameracensium[39]. If this is correct, the reference to Reginlind being "Danorum Fresonumque germine procreatam" has not been explained. A list of names in the Libri Confraternitatum Sancti Galli sets out (in order) "Thieterich, Reginhilt, *, Oto, Amalrat, Perectheid, Friderun, Pia", immediately after a list of family members of Heinrich I King of Germany and his wife, which no doubt refers to the latter's parents and sisters, "Oto" being the only person not so far identified[40]. The list is undated but was presumably written during the period [929/36] as King Heinrich's son-in-law Duke Giselbert is included (married in [928/29]) but not his son-in-law Hugues Duc des Francs (married in 937). The necrology of Merseburg records the death "11 May" of "Reinhild mater regine Mahtildis"[41]. Theoderic & his wife had seven children:

vi. FREDERUNA (-18 Jan 971).

Thietmar refers to "Counts Wichmann and Ekbert…brothers" as sons of Emperor Otto I's maternal aunt[51], but does not name their mother. A list of names in the Libri Confraternitatum Sancti Galli sets out (in order) "Thieterich, Reginhilt, *, Oto, Amalrat, Perectheid, Friderun, Pia", immediately after a list of family members of Heinrich I King of Germany and his wife, which no doubt refers to the latter's parents and sisters[52]. It is also possible that the wife of Wichmann [II] was the sister Bia, unless she can be identified as the mother of Friedrich (see below).

The necrology of Fulda records the death "970 Id Jan" of "Fridarun comitissa [anc Christi]"[53], presumably showing that she became a nun before she died.

WICHMANN [II], son of BILLUNG & his wife --- (-23 Apr 944). Widukind names "Wichmanni fratris sui [=Herimannum]", when recording his rebellion against King Otto[249]. "Otto…rex" granted property "in pago Vnimoti in comitatu Wigmanni dua loca Vrlaha et Ottingha" for the foundation of Magdeburg by charter dated 11 Oct 937[250]. He rebelled against Otto I King of Germany in 938, dissatisfied that the king had given military command in Saxony to his brother Hermann, but made peace with the king later the same year[251]. The Annales Magdeburgenses record the reconciliation of "Wigmannus frater Hermanni Saxonis ducis" and the king in 941[252]. The necrology of Fulda records the death in 944 of "Wigman com"[253]. The necrology of Lüneburg records the death "23 Apr" of "Wigmam com"[254].

m FREDERUNA, daughter of Graf THEODERICH [Immedinger] & his wife Reginlind --- (-18 Jan 971). Her origin is deduced from Thietmar referring to "Counts Wichmann and Ekbert…brothers" as sons of Emperor Otto I's maternal aunt[255], although he does not name their mother. A list of names in the Libri Confraternitatum Sancti Galli sets out (in order) "Thieterich, Reginhilt, *, Oto, Amalrat, Perectheid, Friderun, Pia", immediately after a list of family members of Heinrich I King of Germany and his wife, which no doubt refers to the latter's parents and sisters[256]. It is also possible that the wife of Wichmann [I] was the sister Bia, unless she can be identified as the mother of Friedrich (see above). The necrology of Fulda records the death "970 Id Jan" of "Fridarun comitissa [anc Christi]"[257], presumably showing that she became a nun before she died.

Wichmann [II] & his wife had [four possible children]:

1. [WICHMANN [III] (-killed in battle 22 Sep 967). Thietmar records that "Count Wichmann" took part in the siege of Mainz during the rebellion of Liudolf, son of Emperor Otto I, in 953[258]. No direct proof has been found that Wichmann [III] was the son of Wichmann [II]. However, it is clear that Wichmann [III] was the brother of Ekbert "der Einäugige", as in a later passage Thietmar refers to "Counts Wichmann and Ekbert…brothers" instigating the Slavs to war[259]. Wichmann revived his supposed father's feud with his uncle Hermann Billung, was captured in [953] and not included in the general settlement of 954[260]. He was "the outlaw Count Wichman", under whose leadership "the Slavs" (probably the Pomeranians) defeated Mieszko I Prince of Poland twice in 963[261]. Widukind records that "Misacam" and his Bohemian allies defeated the western Pomeranians in 967 and killed their leader Wichman[262]. Emperor Otto inherited Wichmann's land, presumably by confiscation, and divided the inheritance into two parts, one of which he granted to the monastery constructed at Lüneburg by Hermann Billung, the other to the abbey "que dicitur Keminada iuxta Wisarum fluvium"[263]. The necrology of Lüneburg records the death "22 Sep" of "Wichmannus comes et multi aliis occisi"[264].] same person as…? WICHMANN . The Notice concerning the foundation of Corvey lists "Wicmannus comes Dungon, Hatuwih comitissa Beverunge, Heremannus Mylenhusen" among the donors to the monastery (undated)[265]. Reading this together with the entry for Graf Amelung and his mother Hathwig, it appears probable that the latter was the wife of Wichmann, that both were parents of Amelung, and that Wichmann was the same person as Wichmann [III], but none of this is certain. m HATHWIG, daughter of ---. The Notice concerning the foundation of Corvey lists "Amulung comes Bikethop, Hathuwig mater eius Amulungessen" among the donors to the monastery (undated)[266]. Wichmann & his wife had one child.

2. [BRUNO ([920/25]-[26 Jan] 976). Monk at Corvey before 942. "Bruno Corbeiensis monachus", "cognatus" of Hermann Billung Duke in Saxony, was appointed to succeed Amelung (brother of Hermann Billung) as Bishop of Verden in 962[268]. No direct indication has been found that Bruno was the son of Wichmann [II]. However, the chronology is favorable. Thietmar records the death of Duke Hermann, father of Bernhard, at Quedlinburg on 1 Apr, the transportation of his body to Lüneburg, and the refusal by Bruno Bishop of Verden (maybe his nephew) to allow his burial in church because of his prior excommunication[269].]

3. [EKBERT [I] "der Einäugige" ([930/35]-4 Apr 994). No direct proof has been found that Ekbert [I] was the son of Wichmann [II] but the chronology is favorable. However, it is clear that he was the brother of Wichmann [III], as Thietmar refers to "Counts Wichmann and Ekbert…brothers" instigating the Slavs to war[270]. His birth date range is estimated on the assumption that he was of a similar age to Liudolf, son of Emperor Otto I, when he joined Liudolf's rebellion. Ekbert lost an eye in a battle for which he blamed Emperor Otto I[271]. "Otto…rex" confirmed the immunities of Kloster Essen including over land "excepta in loco Ruoldinghus quam Eggihart et eius coniunx Rikilt" possessed by hereditary right and in land "in comitatu Ecberti et Cobbonis" by charter dated 15 Jan 947[272], although Ekbert [I] would have been rather young at that date for this to be the same person. Thietmar records that "Count Ekbert" joined the rebellion of Liudolf, son of Emperor Otto I[273], dated from other sources to [953/54]. "Otto…imperator augustus" made a donation to St Pantaleon at Köln of property "insule medietatem in Almere que Urch vocatur…quod Gardolfus iam quondam comes…tenuisse…in comitatu Ekberti comitis" by an undated charter, dated to 966[274]. Thietmar records that "Count Ekbert" was tried for complicity in the rebellion of Heinrich Duke of Bavaria and sent into exile[275], dated to 978. In a later passage, the same chronicler records that Count Ekbert was present with Duke Heinrich when the latter kidnapped King Otto III and that subsequently the king's sister Adelheid was held at Ekbert's fortress of Ala[276]. Graf im Hastfalagau. "Otto…rex" donated property "Vvalbisci in comitatu Karoli comitis" to Quedlinburg by charter dated 6 Jan 992, which names as present "Bernhardi ducis, Egberti comitis, Eggihardi marchionis, Herimanni palatini comitis, Huodonis marchionis, Deoderici palatini comitis eiusque fratris Sigeberti comitis, Herimanni comitis"[277], Ekbert's position as second in the list of nobles indicating his importance at the time. The necrology of Fulda records the death in 994 of "Egbertus com"[278]. The necrology of Lüneburg records the death "4 Apr" of "Ekbert com"[279]. m ---. The name of Ekbert's wife is not known.] Ekbert & his wife had [six possible children]. No direct proof has been found that the following are children of Ekbert but this is probable. That Ekbert had surviving sons is shown by the charter of "Otto tercius…Romanorum imperator augustus" dated 23 Jan 1001 which donates property "castellum Dalehem…in pago Hastfala sive Ambargam in comitatu filiorum Ekbrahti comitis et nepotis nostri" to the church of Hildesheim[280]. The relationship of "nepos" to Emperor Otto III would have been a remote one through Ekbert's supposed mother Friderun, who was the sister of Emperor Otto's paternal great-grandmother.

4. [HEDWIG [Hathui] (939-9 Jul 1014, bur Quedlinburg Klosterkirche). Thietmar names "Hathui…niece of Queen Mathilde", records her marriage to "Siegfried son of Markgraf Gero" when aged 13, and that she became a nun after her husband's death[309]. There is no proof that she was the daughter of Wichmann [II] but the latter's wife is the most likely of the sisters of Queen Mathilde who could have been Hedwig's mother. It should also be noted that Thietmar records the death of "my cousin Mathilde" on 28 Apr 1014, noting that "she had long resided at Gernrode with Abbess Hathui to whom she was related by blood"[310]. If Hathui was the daughter of Wichmann [II], she would have been the first cousin of Mathilde's supposed father Duke Bernhard. The Chronicon Montis Serreni names "Hetwigam" as widow of "Gero filium unicum Sifridum"[311] but gives no indication about her origin. Abbess of Gernrode 959. Abbess of Vreden. m (952) SIEGFRIED, son of GERO I Markgraf der sächsischen Ostmark & his wife Judith --- (-[959]).]